My Protest Against 39 Years Of ‘Gaslighting’

Due to the unremitting gaslighting which I experience from social-care providers, health-care providers, disability benefits assessors, care-package providers and even 3 ME organisations which should be closer to the heart of very Severe ME needs, I am, with sadness, changing my Facebook cover photo by way of protest.

I have endured 39 years of ‘gaslighting’ (look it up/ see below) and now, aged 61 years, I demand my right to some life beyond :
>>eat, toilet, deal with overwhelming burden of bureaucratic harassment, sleep. Repeat<<

From today, I will be using this quotation to head every correspondence with said agencies.
They may continue to refuse to hear it. I shall continue to say:

“I am here. This is the reality of my lived-life.”

– until my last breath.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is a debilitating neurological disease which has been recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 1969…

Result

My first use of this letterhead, in an email and follow-up hardcopy letter, has resulted in a respectful, appropriate and prompt response from the service to which I wrote.

Definition of Gaslighting

“Gaslighting is a tactic in which a person or entity, in order to gain more power, makes a victim question their reality. It works much better than you may think. Anyone is susceptible to gaslighting, and it is a common technique of abusers, dictators,narcissists, and cult leaders.

“Gaslighting is a malicious and hidden form of mental and emotional abuse, designed to plant seeds of self-doubt and alter your perception of reality. Like all abuse, it’s based on the need for power, control, or concealment.”
(Psychology Today)